Last noche’s Sho-Box twin-bill delivered a spirited card of action, with undefeated Yuriorkis Gamboa besting Jose Rojas in the main event, and Selcuk Aydin scoring split-decision win over Said Ouali in the semi-final. 

Gamboa, a 5’5” dynamo from Miami, FL via Gitmo Bay, Cuba improved to 15-0, 13 KO’s after stopping game, but outgunned veteran Jose “Cheo” Rojas via TKO at the 1:31 mark of stanza ten. 

With the prize, the WBA Interim Featherweight title up for grabs, Rojas at age 37, gave it his best early on, but after being dropped in stanza five courtesy of Gamboa left hook, the busy pace set by the younger Cuban was taking a toll on the port side counter punching Caracas, Venezuelan. 

Referee Russel Mora searching for a reason to pull the plug, would find it during round ten with Rojas right eye cut swollen - and while he managed a few counter right hooks early on it was now a survival mode. 

Post Scripts:

1. Gamboa (15-0, 13) ~ age 27, in style has been busy with trigger finger at the ready with bursts of automatic barrages - last night displayed an upgraded version with good defense coupled with improved technique to go with the past, one dimensional “Katie bar the door” bombs away style. Will be a mouthful for whoever comes next.

2. Rojas ((25-7-1, 17) ~ at age 37, a heavy cross to bear when in with an opponent with far superior fire power. The taller southpaw tried the counter punch modus operandi to slow the pace - but to no avail. The valor was visible alone on his going as far as ten stanzas - still, on my unofficial card had him entering candle ten without claiming a single stanza.

Referee Russell Mora - best I got, is he pulled the plug before the need of dialing 911, or inviting nearest medicine man in the house. At a loss for any further positives.

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The co-feature a welterweight brawl for some minor league WBC International title strap - but nothing minor about Selcuk Aydin ( Turkey via Germany) and Said Ouali of Las Vegas via Morocco). 

This one had a bit of everything, with both straying from the Marquis Queensberry rules, Aydin was debited a point in stanza six for low blow - but both could have been penalized for other violations.   

The Turk forced the action every round and built an early lead with the busier output - the usual starboard vs. portside had much to do with mutual dislike - hitting on the break, billy goat impersonations - this affair had it all. 

The official scoring would go the split decision route with Aydin 115-112, 115-112; Ouali 114-113. My unofficial had it Aydin 115-113 in points and 8-4 under round by round method.  

Closing comments:

1. Selcuk Aydin (18-0, 14 KO) ~  age 25 -well conditioned, aggressive crowd pleaser that enjoys working on the inside with assorted power punches. Worth the price of admission, but not among the upper echelon at 147.

2. Said Ouali (25-3, 17 KO) ~ age 29 - club fight level that failed to use the height advantage off the southpaw side to good use. Elected for most part to willingly work off the ropes in counter style - but not effective enough to get the nod.

 Referee Tony Weeks: Overplays the man in charge role - debits Aydin for low blow in round six, and then warns both fighters, reminding that they are professionals and should keep it clean. Tough assignment or not, with both equally guilty, there was no threat of a Tyson in the Holyfield ear biting episode.

 

GEL